The Eagles are 2-0, but the first two weeks of the 2026 season have already revealed plenty about where this team stands - and where the questions still are.
Jalen Hurts is the biggest reason for the optimism. Through two games in Sean Mannion’s system, he’s looked a lot like the version of himself that finished second in MVP voting in 2022.
Without A.J. Brown, Hurts has had the freedom to go where he wants with the ball, and that’s made him dangerous.
It’s been a fun start, but the real test comes against stronger opponents.
Saquon Barkley has also reminded everyone what he can still do when healthy. A stinger limited him to four carries against the Titans, so there’s uncertainty about how much more time he might miss.
But in Week 1, he showed the burst and elusiveness that still make him hard to bring down. Against the Commanders, he forced five missed tackles, per Next Gen Stats, and still piled up 83 yards even though seven of his 15 runs came with contact at or behind the line of scrimmage.
At 29, he can still make defenders miss.
One of the quieter developments has been the rise of Dontayvion Wicks in Hurts’ eyes. Hurts has always valued trust in his pass catchers, and Wicks has earned it quickly.
In Week 1, he hauled in a touchdown on a throw that came before he had even finished his break. In Week 2, all five of his catches came in high-leverage moments and moved the chains.
That connection started showing up in camp, and now it’s carrying over when the games count.
The tight end situation also forced the Eagles to make a move. Bringing back Ertz wasn’t just about sentiment.
With Dallas Goedert out for a few weeks and Eli Stowers on IR after being a non-factor this offseason, the Eagles were thin fast. Johnny Mundt and EJ Jenkins were the only options left, so Ertz became a necessary addition.
Even at 35, he can still give the passing game something it badly needs.
Up front, though, the offense has work to do. Cam Jurgens doesn’t need to be benched, but something has to improve.
He struggled in Week 1 next to an injured Landon Dickerson, then had a rough first outing at left guard in Week 2. The move to guard can still work out, but the run game and pass protection haven’t been good enough.
If that doesn’t change, Willie Lampkin starts to become part of the conversation on the interior.
There’s also a real concern brewing on the defensive line. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis got paid, but Moro Ojomo has been the most effective tackle so far.
He was already positioned to take over after Milton Williams left, and now the bigger issue is what happens when Ojomo eventually gets a lucrative deal elsewhere. The Eagles don’t appear to have anyone ready to replace him in 2027, and that’s going to hurt.
The edge rush has its own problem. The Eagles gave Jonathan Greenard a $100 million deal for a reason, and this group needs him back.
Right now, the edge defenders have just one sack. The plan in Week 1 was to keep Jayden Daniels contained, but there were also missed chances to get Cam Ward down last week, including one from Jalyx Hunt, who had been a camp standout.
Greenard’s return has to change the pass rush.
Jihaad Campbell is still very much a work in progress. The 2025 first-round pick has a lot of development ahead of him after getting benched for Nakobe Dean as a rookie.
He also missed all of spring practice with an injury and hasn’t looked fully comfortable through two games. The Eagles spent a premium pick on him, so they’ll give him time, but this has not been a fast start.
In the secondary, Riq Woolen has been everything the Eagles could have hoped for so far - with the usual caution attached. He has been targeted eight times on 62 coverage snaps and has given up only two catches for 21 yards.
After failing to land a multi-year deal in free agency, Woolen has clearly come in motivated, and for now, he looks like one of Howie Roseman’s best additions. The question is whether he can hold that level, since inconsistency was part of his story in Seattle.
Marcus Epps, meanwhile, had a troubling Week 2. The 30-year-old, who tore his ACL two seasons ago, took poor tackling angles and looked slow in Nashville. That performance is a big reason the Eagles moved to sign Moore, the former Colts nickel corner, to add competition for Epps.
In Other News...
Eagles Suddenly Face A Tougher Week 3 Question Than Expected
The Eagles went into the week expecting a clearer read on Chicagos quarterback situation, but the Bears now appear likely to be without Caleb Williams because of a hamstring injury. Tyson Bagent has cleared concussion protocol and could return to practice, which at least gives Chicago another option as it sorts through the position for Week 3.
Ben Johnson confirmed Bagents clearance, a positive development for a Bears team still trying to stabilize under center. Case Keenum could still end up starting, so Philadelphia may have to prepare for more than one possibility even as the matchup looks different than it did when the schedule first pointed to Williams. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Week 3 WR Question Fans Did Not Expect
The Eagles entered the week expecting to sort through a familiar set of early-season injury concerns, but the wide receiver picture took an unexpected turn when Hollywood Brown was added late to the injury report with a knee issue and sat out a practice. For a team still trying to settle its passing-game rotation, the timing matters, especially with a game coming up and the depth chart suddenly looking a little thinner than it did a day earlier.
If Brown is unable to go, Elijah Moore could become part of the conversation in a bigger way. The offseason addition has not played in the first two games, but the Eagles may turn to him for specific offensive packages or even special teams work if they need another receiver available, giving him a chance to finally enter the mix at a moment when the team did not seem to be planning for one. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Defense Suddenly Faces A Bigger Bears Problem Than Quarterback
The Bears quarterback picture has been murky all week, and that has kept a little extra attention on Chicagos visit to Philadelphia. Backup Tyson Bagent was back at practice after reportedly clearing concussion protocol, according to head coach Ben Johnson, after sitting out earlier in the week and fueling speculation that Case Keenum might get the nod if Caleb Williams remains sidelined.
For the Eagles, the bigger issue is not simply who lines up under center, but how much the uncertainty changes the shape of the game. The betting line has already moved as Bagents status has swung back and forth, and Philadelphias defense now has to prepare for a matchup that could still tilt depending on whether the Bears are dealing with one backup quarterback, another, or more late-week confusion. [Read more 🡒]